Amid viral posts on social media about possible question leak in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th combined competitive examination held today across the state from 12-2 pm and protests at one center in Patna, BPSC chairman Ravi Manu Bhai S Parmar said it was a mischief as “there has been no complaint regarding the conduct of exam from anywhere.
At the Bapu Exam Centre, the examinees alleged that the question paper along with OMR answersheet had reached outside and the exam's sanctity had been compromised. They also alleged mismanagement at the center and delayed distribution of question papers.
At other centers also, there were complaints from students that questions had been distributed late, while some also reported instances of candidates running away from the examination hall with question paper and OMR sheet. “The sanctity of exam is important. If that is compromised, nothing is left,” the students at the Bapu exam center said.
As the commotion continued at the Bapu exam centre, Patna district magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh also reached the center to calm down the agitating students. He also lost his cool and slapped a student in anger.
“In one hall there was seating arrangement for 288 students, while the packet had 188 questions in the box. Each envelope contains 12 questions. So additional sealed packets were brought from another room. This took some time and the authorities said they would give additional time. At this some students started objecting and created ruckus. Some students ran away with the question paper and FIR will be lodged against them,” he added.
But for an examination like BPSC, this was not expected and pointed to mismanagement, as question papers have to be sent in accordance with the requirement to exam centres.
However, Parmar refuted all the allegations. “There has not been even one complaint from any of the 912 centers across the state. At one center in Patna, some students did raise questions about change in pattern, but their confusion was also addressed that there was nothing like that,” he told HT.
Parmar said that even one hour after the exam there was no complaint. “The reports we have got is that the exams went off smoothly. The students had to enter the exam center an hour before the exam and once the exam started, they have no access to what is happening outside, as they don't have mobile phones. It is all mischief in the era of social media,” he added.
Parmar said that even if somebody claimed to have question paper an hour after the exam commenced, about which the commission has no information, it would be meaningless and a sheer attempt to misguide the aspirants.
“Once the exam started, the students at the exam centers were left with only papers in their hands, no electronic device. The high-tech command and control center at the BPSC has been monitoring the situation closely, and realtime. If somebody does any mischief, it does not mean tampering with the entire process. The exams went off well,” he added.
